Tissue-specific carbon concentration, carbon stock, and distribution in Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hookplantations at various developmental stages in subtropical China

Key message Carbon (C) concentrations in Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook plantations differed significantly among tissue types and were greater for aboveground than belowground tissues. Plantation C stock increased with developmental stage from young to mature to overmature, but at all stages the majority occurred as soil organic carbon (SOC) and was more influenced by belowground fine roots than by aboveground litterfall.
Context Failing to account for tissue-specific variation in the C concentration can result in inaccurate forest C stock estimates. Aims We aimed to quantify the relative magnitudes of C stock for Chinese fir plantations at different developmental stages. Specifically, we focused on assessing tissue-specific C concentrations and C dynamics return of above- and belowground litterfall. Methods Carbon traits (C concentration, C flux, C stock and distribution at tree and ecosystem scales) were quantified in a chronosequence of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (L...